Set all panels to be closed by default or remember settings by file?
Open blender.

Set the screens the way you want them.


Save your new layout as default by saving the startup file.
In the top menu use File &gt; **Save Startup file.

(For older versions 2.7x) Press Ctrl U to save the current file as the startup file.

From then on, every time you open blender you'll be presented with the layout you've customized.
Setings are always saved so that when you reopen a file it will open with the windows in the same way they where when the file was saved.
If you want to override this behavior unclick the Load UI in when opening a file:


To go reload blender's original settings you can always go to the top menu and use File-&gt;Load Factory Settings